Page 95 of Derailed
26
Sean
Strange.The line drops and our conversation is cut short for no apparent reason. I check to make sure I still have reception. Four bars. Tossing my bag in first, I slide into the waiting cab and rattle off the address before calling Jessback.
It rings and rings before going to voicemail. I don’t know why she won’t pick up, but unease creeps through my mind. I set the phone on the seat next to me and exhale a frustrated breath before trying once more. This time it goes straight to voicemail. A sliver of fear pricks at my thoughts for the rest of the cab ride. Something isn’tright.
The flashing blue and red lights at the end of our street only escalates those fears. As the cabbie slows, my pulse kicks up. I reach for the door handle, my bag already strapped across my shoulder as we roll closer to thechaos.
“Fuck,” I whisper, taking in the blockade of media, paparazzi, and police cars. It’s the ambulance though, inching its way out of our drive and through the frenzy, that moves me into action. “Stop! Stop here!” I take out cash and slap it between the seats. “Keep the change.” My feet are on the pavement and pound with each stride as I run toward the emergency vehicle. It zooms past, lights flashing and sirens blaring, and I miss myopportunity.
My chest heaves and I stop a second, watching the ambulance head down the street. I consider chasing after it on foot, but I’m no match for a vehicle. I need to know what happened. Who’s inside. Dread fills my gut, but I reason that it could be anyone. Maybe Iz came back? Maybe it’s nothing more than a simple accident? It can’t be Jess. It just can’tbe.
I jog toward the house in a half-run, half-walk. As soon as the paps spot me coming, the shouts start. Questions hurtle and cameras flash but I block it all out, picking up my pace until I’m at the policeline.
“Excuse me, sir.” An officer holds his hand up and blocks my way. “Sir, you need to stay behind thisline.”
“I live here! I’m Sean Willis. This is my home,” I sputter, and wish he’d move a lot quicker as he reaches for his radio to verify my right to be here. I should be thankful he’s not letting just anyone inside the property, but the protocol feels like an eternity. He finally checks my ID and I’m off, racing toward the front door because it’s wide open. I stop short, my feet frozen at the sight of a cell phone shattered into pieces.Jess!No, no, no. She has to be okay. I should never have left. It was selfish to leave when I know the danger Coypossesses.
“Excuse me,” a police officer says and it snaps me into motion. He passes as I move to the right and the sound of hushed voices from the kitchen draws me there. Inside, Trent, Austin, and Deb huddle around the counter, talking with cups of coffee in hand. NoJess.
“Where is she?” I push the words from my lips, but the quiver of fear reverberates and betrays my worstfears.
“Sean.” Deb’s gaze furrows and her spinestraightens.
“Is she okay? Tell me she’s okay!” Panic creeps through my limbs and it’s all I can do to take the few steps forward to meet them at thecounter.
“Bro, chill.” Austin stands straight, pointing over his shoulder. “She’s giving her report to thecops.”
She’s talking to the cops. I never imagined that would ease my fears, but it does. “AndCoy?”
Austin’s lips pull wide and he waggles his brows. “Met the end of my fist, so he’s taking a quick trip to the ER before jail.” He holds up the back of his hand for my inspection and puffs his chest. “Dude, you should have been there. I clocked himgood.”
While I appreciate Austin’s excitement at beating up Coy, my concern remains with Jess. “I need to seeher.”
“Give her a minute.” Deb fills a cup with coffee and places it in my hands. “It’s been a long day. This isn’t easy forher.”
Which only increases my need to be at her side. To encourage. To protect. I want to be whatever sheneeds.
“We’ve all given our statements, and Bedo’s on his way. Don’t freak, but we’ve got another problem.” Trent pulls his phone from his back pocket and taps on thescreen.
“I already know. That’s why I’m here.” I take a sip of coffee. “Do we have any news on Iz? Anyone heard fromhim?”
Austin’s brows lift. “Iz is missing? I thought he was still inrehab.”
“Here.” Trent shoves his phone in my hand. “This is what you need tosee.”
My jaw drops; not at the headlines, but from the photographs. Jess and me in the backyard the night we were together. The first time I went down on her. She’s beautiful, a fucking temptress with her head tilted back in pleasure and my face between her legs. The image conjures the sound of her breath falling short, my name on her lips, and even the taste of her arousal. Those were all meant for me, not some stranger. “This is a securityissue.”
Trent nods. “Which I’m sure Bedo will be all over, you know, after he has ananeurysm.”
“Yeah, he’s gonna love hunting down another drummer. We really are cursed.” Austin swears, his next words a whisper. “Speak of thedevil.”
“Fist fights. Exhibitionist features. This is how you lie low?” Bedo storms past us all, slaps his briefcase on the end of the kitchen island and pulls out his laptop. “Maybe next time I’ll send you all to amonastery.”
“Would there be virgins?” Austin smirks and raises hisbrow.
By Bedo’s narrow glare, he doesn’t find Austin funny. “Please tell me he hasn’t gone outside to talk to thepress.”
